Improvement in cradles



G. A. FENNER.

1 radles.

Patented Nov. H, 1873.

J mrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. FENNER, OB MYSTIC RIVER, OONNEOTIOUT.

IMPROVENIENT IN CRADLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 144,391, dated November 11, 1873; application filed April 7, 1873.

T0 all whom it mag; ooncern:

Be it known tl1at I, CHARLES A. FENNER, of Mystic River, New London oounty, Connectiout, have inventecl certain new and useencls may be 0f open-work, and. that, instead of rockers, there may be feet with legs 0f any desired len gtl1, to oonstitute tl1e device a orib instead of a cradle, if preferred.

The expancling lattice sides are conneeted so tl1e ends, so that as tl1e craclle is expanded the encls are inolined. Tl1e expanding lattice bottom is made to support pieces extending clirectly aeross. There is a folding eanvas bottom above tl1e eross-pieces, and there may be a flexible strap along ea-ch side als the top.

The following is a deseription of what I consider tl1e beso means of carrying out tl1e invenion.

The aecompa-nying drawings form a part 0f this specifieation.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of fl1e cradle elosed, and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same open. It is 0n the line S S in Fig. 3, so as o0 show in son1e of ehe bottom pieces the peeuliar arrangement f0i' carrying 1;]1e plus in transverse grooves. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the eraclle open.

Si1nilar lett-ers ofreferenee indieate like arts in all the figures.

A A are the ends, respeotively provided with rigidly-attached roekers, as sl1own. B B 0 (J are diagonal strips 0f hard wood, loosely conneeted by rivets D, so that they oan turn thereon. D D are long nails 0r serews, whieh take tl1e plaoe 0f rivets at tl1ose points, and eonneet the expanding lattiee sides B O to the ends. E E are short links, whicl1 connect tl1e upper portions of tl1e lattiee sicles with the upper part of tl1e encls, respectively. G G H 11 are strips of harcl Wood, conneeted to form an expanding lattice bottom. I I are nails 01 serews, which conneet the strips G H to each other, andalso to stouter cross-pieees M, each of which has agroove, m, in its base, which severally reeeive tl1e ends of nails or bolts J, and allow them t0 slide toward and. from the central longitudinal line as t-l1e eradle is expancled and contraeted. K K are nails or serews, whieh eonnect tl1e lower ends 0f the lattice sides B O so tl1e ends of tl1e eross-pieces M. N is a piece of canvas) secured to tl1e ends, and also to tl1e oross-pieces M, and ad&pted 150 aid. in supporting ehe mattress 0r othe'r soft material, (not represented,) which forms tl1e bed f0r the ohild.

It opens into a ooi1dition which presents the) ends flaring, wl1ile, on closing together, it presents the ends in parallel, or nearly parallel, positions. The space left within the strueture, when oollapsed, is adapted 130 receive the bedding when folcled 0r otherwise prepared in a eompact form. The cross-pieces M m, SIIPI)OI'{} ing the canvas bottom N, are very effieiently supported in all positions by the lattice botton1 G H.

I claim as my invention l. The links E E connecting the ends A A with the lartieed sides B O, arranged as shown, so that as tl1e parts are closed togetl1er ehe ends will approximate a parallel position, and as they are extencled the ends W111&SS11I11 an inclined position, as specified.

2. The grooved cross-pieces M m, in eombination With tl1e bottom lattices G H, side lattices B C, and the connected ends A A, adaptecl to serve as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sei:

my band this 14th day of March, 1873, in ehe presence of two subseribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. FENNER. VVitnesses:

J OHN O. FISH, HENRY B. NOYES. 

